Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints appear to have one of the fastest active roster collections of wide receivers in the NFL.
Wideouts Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Brandin Cooks and Mason Tipton were already on the roster to start training and each have speed as a core element in their games. Though, each has also proven to be much more than just their 40 times.
Since partway through the preseason, New Orleans has added another pair of pass-catchers. Via trade, the team acquired big-bodied but still speedy wideout Devaughn Vele. Then, a week or so later, New Orleans added former LSU speedster Trey Palmer through waivers.
“There’s a lot of speed in that room,” head coach Kellen Moore said of the wide receivers. “Certainly it’s something we obviously have to lean into. Certainly something I think that’s popped up throughout training camp. Those guys having the ability to get down field and it’s something we’ll have to utilize for sure.”
After their recent additions, the Saints sent veteran wide receivers Cedrick Wilson Jr. (who made the initial 53-man roster) and Kevin Austin Jr. to the practice squad. That leaves the team’s active roster with some stellar 40-yard-dash times.
- Chris Olave: 4.39 seconds
- Brandin Cooks: 4.33 seconds
- Mason Tipton: 4.33 seconds
- Devaughn Lee: 4.47 seconds
- Trey Palmer: 4.33 seconds
Shaheed entered the league as an undrafted free agent from Weber State while recovering from an injury. Therefore, throughout his draft process he never ran a 40-yard-dash.
However, as a track athlete, Shaheed told reporters during the Saints’ West Coast training camp trip that his best 100-meter time was 10.07 seconds.
That translates to roughly to the 4.2-4.3 second range. We’ll call it 4.3, taking into account standing records. Shaheed also made it clear that is faster than running back Velus Jones Jr., who ran a 4.31-second time for his 40-yard-dash.
Palmer kept it short and sweet when asked what the speed of the Saints’ receiver room will bring to the table, but the confidence in his new group absolutely shines through.
“(Speed brings) a lot to the table,” he said. “Everybody’s fast. It’s going to be hard to cover all at the same time. So somebody (is) going to be open.”
